Peer Pressure Books

Best Friends for Never (The Clique, No. 2)

Lisi Harrison

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 89 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Shallow 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The characters in this book are spiteful, manipulative, and shallow. But even worse than that, I feel sorry for them, and sorry for any girl who feels like she has to be fake in order to have friends. How terrible that people won't like them for who they really are.. and how awful that must feel to think that one wrong move and your best friend is now your worst enemy. The author of these books has glorified being cruel and encouraged young girls to be scared of who they are. What a heartbreaking message to send girls as they try to discover who they are. Being kind, compassionate, funny, adventurous -these are the sort of things that maintain a friendship. Under all the glam and the glitz, Massie's character seems so lonely. She is afraid to be real with her friends, her family, and herself. Girls thinking of buying this book: you are better than this. Love yourself enough to be proud of who you are and read books that encourage you to be the incredible girl you are! Parents, if you love your daughter, pay her not to read this.

Editorial Review:

The Clique is back ...Massie Block - Still gorgeous. Still trendsetting. Still ruling the social scene at school...she hopes. To keep her spot at the top, Massie decides to throw the school's first boy/girl Halloween party. But her parents are making her invite the entire grade AND share the party with Claire. She's not sure which is scarier...Dylan Marvil - Lost the weight. Kept the attitude. Plans to use her new look to snag a cute guy. Kristen Gregory - Clothes are for sharing. Guys aren't. Likes the same guy Dylan does. Will do whatever it takes to get him. Alicia Rivera - With the Clique unravelling faster than last season's Burberry sweater, is it time for Alicia to stage her takeover? Claire Lyons: Still out. Wants in. Seriously needs to lose those Keds.

It's Not Easy Being Mean (Clique Series)

Lisi Harrison

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

"She's Done it Again" 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's a new year at Octavian Country Day Middle School,and this year brings up whole new drama. A new character Skye Hamilton (the eighth grade alpha), is in charge of who gets the key to the "forgotten" room. The key has been passed down from alpha to alpha. Of course Massie thinks she will get it. But everything turns around when Skye decides to do a scavenger hunt for the key. Massie cannot let it get into the wrong hands, like an LBR. (loser beyond repair) She gets so worried along the book that she doesn't even insult people with her witty jokes! This book is by far one of my favorite Clique books,because it keeps you so entertained. Especially when each clique gets so close to find to key! This book also has a ton of detail,and it is just the type of book you just can't put down! I would highly recommend this book but only if you are a girl from the ages 11-16, and make sure that you have read the previous books in the series because then it will make a lot more sense.

Editorial Review:

Massie Block: Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the rest of the social scene at Octavian Country Day, an exclusive private school in Westchester County, New York. Claire Lyons: Has finally arrived! She's in the Clique and adored by super-cute Briarwood boy Cam. But will she be able to stay in Massie's inner circle? Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia would love to take Massie's throne one day. She just might do it. Dylan Marvil: Divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkin's shakes to try to get rid of the extra fifteen pounds that won't seem to leave her butt alone. Kristen Gregory: She's smart, hardworking and will insult you to tears faster than you can say "scholarship kid." The Clique... The only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

The Revenge of the Wannabes (The Clique, No. 3)

Lisi Harrison

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 126 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Revenge of the Wannabees 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Revenge of the Wannabees is a well written story that is fun, but cleverly educational about the relationship between 5 girls in a special cliuque that they formed at OCD middle school. This book is an interpersonal relationship fiction novel that shows teenage girls how to avoid fighting between Cliques. I believe that this novel has outdone both the other Clique novels. This book dives deep into the plot exposing the 5 girls true charectoristics and allow them to I would rate this book 4 out 5 stars because this is due to the way it shws how cliques really do act and how to avoid making fights with difficult groups of people. This book would be appropriate for anyone who has read and enjoyed any other books by Lisi Harrison and also for any teenage girls even though they may not be as popular or where as much designer clothes as other girls.

Editorial Review:

pr`es Thanksgiving. Weeks before Christmas. Alicia and Olivia are on their way to Manhattan so the Teen People editors can do a story on them about winning the Octavian Country Day uniform design contest. When Massie finally processes that the girls who hijacked her victory are also modeling for Teen People, she is livid. It should have been her. 'Ehmagod, what will everyone think when they find out it wasn't me who was asked to model? I will be SO over.' Massie decides it's time to get revenge. This snake can not lay idle in the weeds for one more second. Kristen and Dylan throw out terrible 'revenge' suggestions and Massie vetoes them all. She will think of something! But first she has to go home and exfoliate. The social minefields of Westchester County's most privileged middle school girls drive the page-turning action of this addictive series, set in New York City's most elite suburban county. The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Chrysanthemum

Kevin Henkes

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 73 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her name was perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less than perfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud. That evening, Chrysanthemum's parents try to piece her self-esteem back together again with comfort food and a night filled "with hugs, kisses, and Parcheesi." But the next day Victoria, a particularly observant and mean-spirited classmate, announces that Chrysanthemum's name takes up 13 letters. "That's half the letters in the alphabet!" she adds. Chrysanthemum wilts. Pretty soon the girls are making playground threats to "pluck" Chrysanthemum and "smell her."

Kevin Henkes has great compassion for the victims of childhood teasing and cruelties--using fresh language, endearing pen-and-ink mouse characters, and realistic dialogue to portray real-life vulnerability. He also has great compassion for parents, offering several adult-humor jokes for anxious mommies and daddies. On the surface, the finale is overly tidy and the coincidences unbelievable. But in the end, what sustains Chrysanthemum, as well as this story, is the steadfast love and support of her family. And because of this, the closure is ultimately convincing and utterly comforting. ALA Notable Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Fanfare Honor List. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson

Skim

Mariko Tamaki

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Comics & Graphic Novels

Editorial Review:

The time is the early 1990s, the setting a girls' academy in Toronto. Enter "Skim," aka Kimberly Keiko Cameron, a not-slim, would-be Wiccan goth. When her classmate Katie Matthews is dumped by her boyfriend, who then kills himself, the entire school goes into mourning overdrive. It's a weird time to fall in love, but Skim does just that after secret meetings with her neo-hippie English teacher, Ms. Archer. When Ms. Archer abruptly leaves the school, Skim has to cope with her confusion and isolation, as her best friend, Lisa, tries to pull her into "real" life by setting up a hilarious double date for the school's semi-formal. Skim finds an unexpected ally in Katie. Suicide, depression, love, being gay or not, crushes, cliques of popular, manipulative peers — the whole gamut of tortured teen life is explored in this masterful graphic novel by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki.

My Secret Bully

Trudy Ludwig

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 24 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This Story is Empowering For Kids 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Literature like this is invaluable to teach children about this ever-present issue of bullying.It is so empowering for children to know they are not alone. Read and do the activities with your child. Additionally a must-read for every parent or teacher of a school-age child...even pre-schoolers is Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying...filled with stories, scripts, classroom -tested lessons and activities to raise empowered children who will not became bullies nor victims!

Don't Keep a Bully a Secret 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Again, well done. Too often children, and even adults, are affected more than we realize by bullies. I bought all three of her books after seeing the author's school presentation. Thank you Amazon for having these books available through your many book dealers. My copies were in good condition and arrived quickly.

Editorial Review:

When Monica’s friend Katie begins to call her names and humiliate her in front of other kids at school, she feels betrayed and isolated. But with help from her mother, Monica reclaims her confidence from a bully disguised as her friend. This wonderful resource for children, parents, teachers, and counselors includes helpful tips, discussion questions, and additional information for any child who has experienced relational aggression.

The Chocolate War (Readers Circle)

Robert Cormier

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 377 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

principle before action 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Supposedly, this is a young adult classic, but honestly, I'm not sure why. It's just not very good. Sure, it's controversial (the characters swear and think about masturbation a lot), but that's not a good enough reason for it to keep being assigned in schools.

Also, I think the thing that should make the book controversial is its portrayal of gross cruelty by students and certain teachers. Not that I'm worried that kids will suddenly become cruel just by reading this book (those who are going to be cruel tend to come by it naturally, after all), but if we're worried about exposing children to unsavory things, it ought to cruelty for it's own sake.

But what I really didn't like about this book was that although we're told there's a principle behind the actions of Jerry, who refuses to sell the chocolates, we're never told what the principle is. There's some suggestion that Jerry himself isn't really sure what his principle is, but in the context of the book, that's just not good enough.

It all started when Jerry is "assigned" by the Vigils (the school's student secret society, which doesn't actually seem to be much of a secret to anyone) to refuse to sell the chocolates for 10 days. He does (there's no suggestion that he even thinks about refusing the "assignment") but then continues to refuse to sell the chocolates after the 10 days are up, even after he gets another "assignment" that he start selling the chocolates. But why does he continue to refuse? Is it something about the chocolate sale itself, or is it about defying the Vigils? We don't know. The action of defiance seems to be more important than the principle behind it. I think Cormier got it backward.

Editorial Review:

Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn't think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He's just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor--or are they fighting for their lives? In 1974, author Robert Cormier dared to disturb our universe when this book was first published. And now, with a new introduction by the celebrated author, The Chocolate War stands ready to shock a new group of teen readers.

Hey, Little Ant

Phillip M. Hoose, Hannah Hoose

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Teaches Empathy 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am a 3rd grade teacher, and I use this book in my classroom to teach about bullying, peer pressure (the boy's friends are encouraging him to squish the ant), and empathy. My students love it! I wish I could find a poster of the page where the ant is looming over the boy and asking "If you were me, and I were you, what would you want me to do?" What an incredible lesson for kids! The best part is that the book ends with the shoe looming over the ant and leaves the ending up to the reader. Kids love writing (or just inventing) their own endings! GREAT BOOK!

I loved it but... 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I loved this book and the intention the author had to encourage children to consider the moral of the story. Also for a children's book it is well written with amusing rhymes. The kids also loved hearing this story. The only problem was this - they got absolutely the wrong message from it!

The book presents two arguments - the ant pleading for its life, and the boy who questions the value of the ant's life. But the author wrote the boy's side of the story so pleasingly that my kids far more enjoyed siding with the boy than with the ant, despite explanation, to my complete despair! My young listeners were quite young, ages 2-3, so perhaps this book would be better for a slightly older child.

Editorial Review:

Hey, little ant down in the crack

Can you hear me? Can you talk back?

See my shoe, can you see that?

Well now it's gonna squish you flat! So begins a conversation between a young boy and the ant trembling in the shadow of his sneaker. This playful story brings up questions about the ethics and peer pressure, encouraging the very youngest citizens to decide for themselves: to squish...or not to squish?!

How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days (Candy Apple)

Lisa Papademetriou

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Courtesy of Teens Read Too 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Nicolette Spicer, or Nick, has always been a tomboy, and wasn't ashamed of it. She was proud of the way she dressed and carried herself and she was proud at how well she did at basketball. But Nick's feelings about herself begin to change when she literally bumps into Ben, the new guy at school. Who knew he could be so cute up close?

Now Nick begins to crush on Ben, but there seems to be one little problem. It looks like Ben only goes for the types of girls who are completely into the way they look and the latest fashions. Girls like Hannah, who just so happens to also be on the basketball team -- but who is also pretty, Nick's enemy, and definitely the one Ben would go out with. Nick knows nothing about fashion and hasn't really cared about the way she looks, but she's determined to have Ben notice her girly side, and hopefully have him choose her over Hannah.

The only way Nick can accomplish this is to get a makeover, and she needs one quick so she can make her big debut as a girly girl at Hannah's party, which Ben will just so happen to be attending. But will this makeover be totally beneficial in helping Nick to get Ben? Or will it just make her feel even worse about herself?

Words just can't describe how hilarious and entertaining HOW TO BE A GIRLY GIRL IN JUST TEN DAYS was. Lisa Papademetriou shows us that sometimes being yourself is more worth it and definitely less time-consuming than a makeover. This is the perfect quick read for anyone who just wants to sit back and relax.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Editorial Review:

Nicolette Spicer ("Nick" to her friends) is a tomboy through and through. While her friends focus on shopping and lip gloss, Nick would rather buy new basketball shoes and practice her free throw. But everything changes when she meets a cutie named Ben and decides she has to ditch the jock look if she wants him to notice her. With the biggest party of the school year just ten days away, Nick is in a crunch. But when her best friend Lindsay suggests a magazine-article-inspired makeover, it seems like the perfect solution. But can Nick change her looks and still be herself?

The Clique

Lisi Harrison

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 438 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The social minefields most privileged middle-school girls drive the over-the-top drama in this addictive new book, set in suburban New York City's Westchester County. Massie Block: With her glossy brunette bob and Whitestrip smile, Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the rest of the social scene at Octavian Country Day, an exclusive private school in Westchester, New York. Dylan Marvil: Massie's second in command who divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkins shakes to try to get rid of the extra fifteen pounds that won't seem to leave her hips alone. Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia floats easily under adult radar because she seems so 'sweet.' Would love to take Massie's throne one day. Just might do it. Kristen Gregory: She's been dying to fit in ever since her parents went broke. She's smart, hardworking and will insult you to tears faster than you can say 'scholarship kid.' And then there's Claire Lyons, the new girl in two-year old GAP overalls from Florida, who is clearly not Clique material. The only problem is that Claire's family is staying in the guest house on the Blocks' massive estate while they look for a new home! Claire's future looks worse than a bad Prada knockoff. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just come up smelling like Chanel Mademoiselle...